Chanderpaul, Croft, Chan: Cricket’s ménage á trois

Jun 04, 2013 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

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Three famous names in West Indian cricket and cricket journalism will be the centre of an impending libel case. The Guyanese public will be treated to cricket played indoors rather on the field. Sports commentator, Naim Chan, told this columnist that so hurt he is at accusations made against his character by batting legend Shivnarine Chanderpaul that he is about to sue the famous cricketer for libel.
In an interview, Mr. Chan said he was in tears when he read what Chanderpaul wrote in the Guyana Times and said on NTN, Channel 69. Chan told me he credits himself as one of the persons who discovered Chanderpaul at a very early age. Chan went on to state that the batting legend has always been his sports hero and therefore he was devastated at the public accusation by Chanderpaul
The story began when Chan sought financial assistance from business places to erect a large billboard to be placed in Mahaica with the images of the two celebrated names to come out of Unity village – Chanderpaul and Colin Croft. Chan produced a document endorsed by Chanderpaul when soliciting funds. But things went astray. Chanderpaul wrote a letter in the Guyana Times asking Chan not to use his name any longer because financial accountability was missing from Chan’s operation. Later Chanderpaul was on NTN.
Chan intoned that his defence was rejected by Guyana Times but carried in the April 9 edition of this paper. Captioned, “Naim Chan clears the air on Unity SC/Chandarpaul issue,” I quote; “Shiv makes a grave allegation of financial misconduct against me… I challenge Shiv to bring forward the evidence… Shiv may shortly be asked to produce evidence before a judge…”
On Sunday last, Mr. Chan told me that he is in the process of filing his affidavit. He added that he is confident he will succeed and will donate his award to charity. One of the dimensions of the Chanderpaul-Chan quarrel involves another cricketing icon, Colin Croft.
Here is what Chan stated on the Colin Croft angle in his April 9 missive in the Kaieteur News: “Unfortunately, Colin’s name was dropped because Chanderpaul refused to have his face and that of Colin’s on the same billboard, he refused to even negotiate on the issue.” (end of quote)
I asked Chan why then did he proceed to collect money for the project seeing that Chanderpaul was not interested in Croft’s visage being next to his. Chan explained that when he went back to certain business people they felt that if Chanderpaul wished that,  then his request should be respected and they would have no objection to still donating to the project.
I spoke with the owner of the company, Andrew Arts that did the billboard. He explained that Chan first came with the blueprint for Chanderpaul and Croft then later returned to ask that Croft’s face be taken out.
I spoke to Chanderpaul’s very close friend and business partner, former national cricketer Sheik Mohamed (together they own a sporting goods store in Enmore named TIGER SPORTS). He was unambiguous that he does not believe Chan converted money to his own use. He felt there was a huge misunderstanding. But he defended Chanderpaul’s alleged request to leave out the face of Colin Croft.
When pressed for Chanderpaul’s reason, Mohamed said that Chanderpaul’s grievance with Croft is that Croft has never written anything positive about him and is always negative in his comments.
Mohamed went on to state that he fully supports Chanderpaul’s position on Croft and he, Mohamed, would have done the same. Mohamed thinks that Croft refuses to acknowledge the positives in the career of the West Indian batting giant. For this article, there was no response from e-mails sent to Chanderpaul. Colin Croft sent me a lengthy statement of clarification.
Mr.Croft has provided several published pieces written by him which showered praise on Chanderpaul. My conclusion is that Mr. Croft has indeed written positively on the batsman. Mr. Croft also raised issues of unfair de-recognition by Guyana and the Caribbean of his talent and contribution to cricket which he deeply resents but more on that later.
Croft’s niece, Shelizia Khan, who was initially the contact person for Chan spoke to me
She described her shock when she heard about Chanderpaul’s attitude towards her famous uncle. She declined to comment any further but she thinks the reason for Chanderpaul’s alleged decision is that he does not see Croft as a great cricketer worthy of his image being alongside his own on a huge billboard. The billboard now stands tall on the Mahaica Cricket Ground with only one face on it.
Chanderpaul remains the only cricketer to have picketed the WICB in a two-man exercise with then President Bharrat Jagdeo. Jagdeo’s placard read; “The WICB is a disgrace.” Many Guyanese feel the same about Jagdeo.

 

 

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